15 HITS POWER GLENWOOD PAST ALGONA, 11-2

The eighth-ranked Glenwood Rams powered past the Algona Bulldogs 11-2 Tuesday night in the final Class 3A first-round game at Principal Park. The Rams collected 15 hits behind the terrific starting pitching of Taylor Kaufman, who struck out 10 batters in six innings in the effort.

Glenwood — the only ranked team to qualify in 3A — broke through on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning. With two down in the inning, Kyle Wheeler singled for the Rams, the first hit in the ball game. Bryan Harless followed up Wheeler with a double in the gap, scoring Wheeler and putting the Rams in front, 1-0.

Glenwood added to their lead with a four-spot in the top of the fifth. Grant Stivers knocked a one-out double to become the first o five straight batters with a base hit. Wheeler, Harless, Grant Loeffelbein and Kaufman hit four consecutive singles to increase the Rams' lead to 5-0.

Algona was able to get on the board in the bottom half of the fifth. Blair Bradley and Josh Hollinger hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning and Weston Shaw knocked in Bradley with a single of his own, plating the first run of the game for the Bulldogs.

Glenwood put the nail in the coffin in the top of the sixth as they put up five runs in the frame. The Rams had five hits in the inning, three of them being extra base hits. Three of the five Rams' runs in the inning came via wild pitches and after the inning, the Rams led 10-1.

Both teams put up a run in their respective half of the seventh inning, as the ball game ended at 11-2.

Kaufman picked up the win for the Rams and upped his record to a perfect 11-0 on the season. Kaufman tossed six innings, surrendering four hits, one run, one walk, while striking out 10 on the evening.

Kyle Wheeler led the way offensively for the Rams going 4-for-5, with two RBI’s and three runs scored. Harless picked up three hits in five at bats, scoring two runs and driving one in himself.

With the victory, Glenwood pushed their record to 28-7 on the season and will meet the Sabers of Central Clinton on Friday at 2 p.m. at Principal Park.